WHEN TO START RUNNING RABBITS IN STARTING PEN

[badboyzkennel]

I need some help on how long Tennessee Red Backs should be in a pen before you put some pups in to run them. I put 20 in a month ago they are half grown. I have two 4 month old pups that I want to start. I don't want the pups to get to big and fast before the rabbit learn to run from them. My pen is 6 acres and thick with cover. Thanks!

[Big River Beagles S]

u should be fine my friend only has them out for about 2 weeks before he starts running them

[tom summers]

Rabbits are fine. But i would not put 20 in the pen. Too many rabbits what happens with too many is the pups learn real fast that they can just run around and jump them instead of hunting for them and trailing . I would not put more tan 8-10 at most. I tried to keep 7 in my 5ac. Pen and worked well. Good luck with the pen and have fun.
Tom

[S.R.Patch]

I put 3 pups in a 6 acre pen last week and left them 4 days. Put them back in over the weekend and this morning they had a 1/2 grown chewing on it at the gate. This pen has only wild rabbits so I'd bet your gonna not have to feed the pups as they be eating caught game for awhile.
My pups did little during the day as it's been so hot, most of the action is occurring at night while there out on their own. I keep a bucket of flea & tick dip at the gate also as the ticks are so bad I've dipped them twice. The pen is closed on monday and tuesday an it seems a good thing, the pups have ran all the baby fat off loosing weight, the heat and the running has them eating less.
Good luck with your pups. I'd only run the in the early daylight or just at dark. Your rabbits are not conditioned to be chased and won't last long in the heat. I was surprised these pups catching a wild young.

[HBmudbug]

I have maby 15 rabbits in ten acers. I waited 30 days to put pups in the pen. pups are only 4 months old but are running good.i don't think they have caught any rabbits.only run them two hours about daylight.

[Rcoff]

If you only run the pups a hour the first day, increase slowly second day and so on you should be ok. Rabbits are not used to being chased, they have to be built up to it gradually. They need time to rest and get away from the dogs like wild cottontails do. It doesn't matter how much cover you have, they need a place to get away. Provide this and condition your rabbits and they should be fine.
Thanks,
Bob